Following the European Commission's final warning, Bulgaria has definitively abolished the option of "buying passports", i.e. obtaining citizenship in exchange for short-term investments.
The European Commission had long objected to the practice adopted in Bulgaria of granting citizenship to foreigners in exchange for investment. And now, at an extraordinary sitting, the parliamentary legal committee unanimously approved the Council of Ministers’ bill amending the law on Bulgarian citizenship. Interestingly, the proposal to amend the law was tabled a year ago, but there was no hurry to consider it until the European Commission’s latest objection.
Until recently, foreign nationals who had obtained a permanent residence permit on the basis of investments of 1 million leva in Bulgarian companies, bonds and securities, as well as Bulgarian intellectual property, could obtain citizenship after 5 years of holding a permanent residence permit. If they increased their investments to 2 million, they could apply for a new passport after just one year of holding a permanent residence permit. Neither a language exam nor renunciation of previous citizenship was required.
The decision to abandon this ground was taken because short-term investments were being made solely for the sake of obtaining passports.
Nevertheless, the law retains the possibility of obtaining citizenship for investors with long-term investments, subject to a number of conditions.
Other amendments to the law were also adopted unanimously. Thus, citizens of the United Kingdom living in Bulgaria have the right, until the end of the transition period for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, to apply for Bulgarian citizenship without renouncing their British citizenship.
Bulgarian citizenship: what you need to know
Did not find the answer here? Write to us — we will look at your case and tell you what comes next.
Mon–Fri 9:00–17:30 (EET)
Ask a question
NewsBulgaria is stepping up the practice of refusing and revoking long-term residence permits for foreign nationals who obtained their status on the basis of activity as trade representatives.
NewsIn 2026, a pan-European digital wallet — the European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet) — will appear in the countries of the European Union. This mobile app will allow EU citizens and residents to store documents, confirm their identity online and offline and sign legally binding documents — free of charge and with recognition across the entire Union.
NewsFrom 1 January 2026 the euro becomes the official currency in the Republic of Bulgaria.
This article describes the general procedure. Your situation almost always has specifics — tell us about it and we will point out the shortest route.
Book a consultation